Wow, it really is getting chilly now. The NE wind seemed to keep migration at bay, but at least female Osprey CJ7 spent longer on the nest today and even started bringing larger sticks to the nest with 4 or 5 collected today. At the same time the un-ringed female Osprey (which we’re now thinking isn’t Beaky, but just another un-ringed individual) spent pretty much all day on the Middlebere platform catching 3 large fish over the course of the day, showing well to visitors who went to RSPB Arne. Another Osprey was photographed in Wareham Forest, hiding away eating a fish. The forest has over the last 10 years become a favoured feeding spot for migrant birds but they’re able to hide away so well that they often go unseen. At Lytchett Fields there were also 2 Red Kite, 1 migrant Marsh Harrier high overhead and 1 Little Ringed Plover was on the fields. At Holes Bay a Red Kite drifted over there too and once again Swallows were logged passing through at numerous sites. On Upton Heath it was quite busy with 9 Stonechat, 7 Linnet, 9 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap seen along a short route.

Red Kite – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

CJ7 beginning to build her nest, bringing 5 sticks to the nest today